Harbor Management Commission

HARBOR MANAGEMENT COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES Tuesday, March 28, 2022, 5:00 PM Norwich City Hall, Room 319, Turbo Bridge MEMBERS PRESENT: Chair Tucker Braddock, City Treasurer Michael Gualtieri, Alderman Grant Neuendorf, Michael Aliano, David Bishop OTHERS PRESENT: Coastal Area Planning Consultant Geoff Steadman (via Turbo Bridge), Recording Secretary Kaitlyn Griffiths MEMBERS ABSENT: Sofia LeWitt, Mark Sicuso, John Salomone CITIZENS PRESENT: Tucker Gilbert, Lisa Simmons 1.Call to Order: Chair Tucker Braddock called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. 2. Determination of Quorum: It was determined a quorum was present. 3. Approval of Minutes: On a motion by Michael Gualtieri, seconded by Michael Aliano, the January 24, 2023, meeting minutes of the Harbor Management Commission (HMC) were unanimously approved as presented. 4. Harbor Master Report: On behalf of Harbor Master Richard Thayer, Chair Tucker Braddock discussed the current situation of Tucker Gilbert’s sunken boat off the river bank of the old scrapyard. The insurance adjuster has looked at the boat, gave an approx. amount of $9000.00 to raise the boat to bring it on land. Tucker Gilbert is to fix the boat to make it seaworthy again and be able to move it upon being repaired. 5. Correspondence: Nothing to report. 6. Financial Report: Michael Gualtieri reviewed the revenue, expenses, and balances of the February 1st – 28th 2023 report. Mr. Gualtieri reports the $75.40 expenditure of the data line is for the Harbor Management Commission’s share of the harborcam. On a motion by Michael Aliano, seconded by David Bishop, the February 2023 Financial Report was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. 7. New Business: a) Amistad Arrival: Chair Tucker Braddock states that the Amistad is coming up through the Thames River from April 24th – 28th 2023. There are some concerns about the safety of this. City Attorney Michael Driscoll and Mayor Nystrom will be contacted to determine where the Amistad will be docked and if at the Marina will there be a visitor access fee charged and shared with the City. It is the commission’s understanding that if a fee is charged it is to be shared with the City as part of the original transportation center grant. Kaitlyn Griffiths enters the meeting. b) Support of CT Legislature H B #5615: Consultant Geoff Steadman states that there has been a correction on the number of this bill; now known as HB #5614. Mr. Steadman states that there was an Environmental Committee that had a public hearing on Feb 27th 2023, in which there were many bills to be discussed, including HB #5614. HMC has now learned this bill is not going forward as of right now. HMC will have to complete the Harbor Management Plan with provisions to allow HMC recommendations to be considered by DEEP. If not approved by DEEP, then there will have to be a subsequent discussion on how to move forward. Mr. Steadman is to review Stamford legislative results later this week for more information and clarification. c) Sinking Boat- Thames River: Tucker Gilbert states he is the owner of the boat currently sunk in the Thames River. Mr. Gilbert states that Kennedy Marine has come up and put the booms and curtain into place to take all precautions to limit any toxins or fluids from leaking and contaminating the water. The boats have been completely drained of fluids and fuels. Mr. Gilbert lost a dingy that has not been recovered, its location is currently unknown. The Coast guard, DEEP, Fire Department, Police Department and Zoning Department all came out to assess the situation. Lisa Simmons has voiced environmental concerns regarding the sinking of the boats and the citizens’ and water safety. Mr. Gilbert addressed those concerns to the best of his knowledge and his ability. Mr. Gilbert readdressed what actions have been taken and what is to be done next. d) Consultant- Geoff Steadman: Consultant Geoff Steadman reiterates the uncertainty of standing of the HMC authority. He also states that there still has not been a meeting to allocate the monies for the bonding for the current grants and that it is supposed to be on the agenda for their next meeting in April 2023. The original applications (not the addition of the dock and piling repairs) have been approved, but HMC is waiting for the monies to be allocated by the State Bonding Commission. Chairman Tucker Braddock will check to see if there is a current RFP for the first application tomorrow. Chairman Tucker Braddock states that Mayor Nystrom has called OPM about the current plan in place and that the next step is to have written responses. e) Income Sources for HMC: Chairman Braddock states that HMC members should think about ideas to bring in revenue for HMC and bring them to the next meeting. It was restated that about the Marina charging and that half of those fees could come back to the City. HMC pursued discussion on a couple ideas that may be discussed further at the next meeting. 8. Old Business: a) Rowing Shells: Chair Braddock reiterates that there is still no land that is municipality owned to store the shells, but currently HMC member, Michael Aliano has graciously allow the use of his property to temporarily store them on his property until a better location is found. b) Harbor Management Plan: Chair Braddock reiterates that the second SHIPP grant application is awaiting state bonding approval as stated previously in this meeting. There was an RFP created and gone out for bid to pursue construction of the current approved projects that have monies allocated. Geoff Steadman states that there is one last part of the HMP that needs to be completed and that Harbor Management Commission would need to have a discussion on how they wish to complete it. Mr. Steadman also talks about a survey using NCDC, that there is a fee associated with it and there’s been limited information gathered as of late. Mr. Steadman asks HMC if they want to continue this or stop currently. A motion by Michael Aliano, seconded by Michael Gualtieri, to discontinue the use of NCDC survey currently was unanimously accepted by roll call vote. 9. Citizen Comment: Lisa Simmons reiterates her concerns about business across from her house area and what has or hasn’t been approved. Mr. Gilbert stated his intention of bringing industry to the harbor. The HMC discussed possible obstacles and to their knowledge there are multiple approvals required to begin this process. The HMC stated that the first approval begins with approval from the land owner and a submission of a copy of this letter of intent to enter into an agreement and support from him to the HMC. 10. Other: None 11. Adjournment: On a motion to adjourn by Michael Gualtieri, seconded by Michael Aliano, the Harbor Management Commission meeting adjourned at 5:56PM. Respectfully submitted, Kaitlyn Griffiths Recording Secretary